Bahrain Opposition quits Parliament

Bahrain: Bahrain’s main Shia Opposition party has quit the Parliament in protest at a brutal crackdown of pro-democracy demonstrators and the use of violence by security forces. The Islamic National Accord Association announced Tuesday its decision to suspend participation in the parliament due to the killing of anti-government demonstrators, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The move by the Shia bloc, which holds 18 seats in the 40-member house, came after a second protester was shot dead by security forces near capital Manama. Around 4,000 people poured out into the streets following the funeral procession of a 20-year-old demonstrator who was killed in protests on Monday.

The protesters, inspired by the recent revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, have been demanding a new constitution and an elected prime minister as well as the release of all political prisoners.

Under mounting pressure, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa expressed sorrow over the death of the two demonstrators in clashes with police and announced a ministerial probe. “In light of the incidents that took place yesterday and today... There have been sadly two deaths.

I express my deep condolences to their families,” the king said in a televised address on Tuesday. He added that he had assigned Deputy Prime Minister Jawad al-Orayedh to set up a special panel to find out the reasons that led to the “regrettable events.”

Wednesday, Press TV